Pet access limiting device

ABSTRACT

A device for limiting access of an animal is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a sidewall defining an opening therein, and a housing interior in communication with the opening. The device also includes an opening-size selectable member engageable with at least a portion of the housing for restricting at least one dimension of the opening to form a modified opening. The modified opening allows passage of a first animal into the housing interior through the opening, and restrains a second animal from entering the housing interior. In one configuration, the second animal is larger than the first animal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/035,482, filed Mar. 11, 2008, entitled “Pet Access LimitingDevice”, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to pet access limiting devicesand, more particularly, to an apparatus having an adjustable opening forallowing animals of a certain size to pass therethrough, whilepreventing larger animals from entering the opening.

2. Description of Related Art

Many pet owners have more than one animal living within a house. Inthese circumstances, pet owners often encounter difficulties in keepingfood dishes and/or litter boxes separated between various pets. Forexample, if a large cat and a small cat reside within the same dwelling,the large cat will often consume all of its food, and will then begin toconsume the food left for the small cat. This can result in excessivefood consumption for the large cat, and poor nutrition for the smallcat. A similar situation can arise when a large dog and a small dogreside within the same dwelling, or when a cat and a dog share the samehouse. This often requires that the animal owner elevate the cat food toan inconvenient location in order to prevent the dog from eating thefood. Typically, pet owners will resort to placing food dishes onclothes dryers, computer tables, bedroom dressers, dining room tables,or kitchen counters. This often results in pet hair, pet food, andgeneral pet messes in such areas, which can be both unsightly andunsanitary. Alternatively, a pet owner may be required to be present ateach, or most, feedings to ensure that each animal receives the properamount of food and/or water.

Similarly, litter box issues can also arise when multiple animals residewithin the same space. In certain situations, a dog will consume fecesleft in a litter box by a cat. If a litter box is left unguarded by theanimal owner, the dog may consume the feces and subsequently become ill.The dog may also consume feces and subsequently approach children oradults, potentially putting them at risk for transmission of disease.

At other times, nursing or ill animals must be carefully watched bytheir owner and often separated from other animals within the house.Nursing or ill animals often have special dietary restrictions, such asspecial foods, food amounts, or medicines, which must be consumed by theill animal only and not shared among other pets. This often requiresthat the pet owner confine the nursing or ill animal to a room or gatedarea within the house that is separated from other pets. Separatinganimals in such a fashion necessitates the use of gates or requires thatcertain areas of the home remain restricted from otherwise normal use.

In each of the above situations, an extra burden is placed on the petowner to diligently watch their pets and the behaviors of one pet towardanother. This extra burden can result in increased time required atfeedings, constant guarding of a litter box, and/or added expense inextra food, gates, or other equipment to physically separate the spaceoccupied by one pet in comparison to other pets. Accordingly, a needexists for an improved apparatus for separating one pet from another atfeeding times and during use of a litter box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in view of the foregoingproblems and other deficiencies of traditional feeding and litter boxstructures. The apparatus of the present invention includes a housinghaving a preformed opening therein. The apparatus also includes anopening-size selectable member for defining a specific opening sizebetween an interior of the housing and the surrounding environment. Theopening-size selectable member is engageable with a portion of thehousing adjacent the opening, such that at least a portion of theopening-size selectable member may be disposed over the opening. Theopening-size selectable member may be adjusted by the user to define aspecific opening size through which an animal may pass, whilerestraining any larger animals from passing through the opening. Theopening-size selectable member may be adjusted by the user and engagedwith a portion of the housing, thereby locking the opening-sizeselectable member in a fixed location.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes ahousing having a sidewall defining an opening therein, and a housinginterior in communication with the opening. The device also includes anopening-size selectable member engageable with at least a portion of thehousing for restricting at least one dimension of the opening to form amodified opening. The modified opening allows passage of a first animalinto the housing interior through the opening, and restrains a secondanimal from entering the housing interior. The second animal may belarger than the first animal.

Optionally, the housing interior may be adapted to house at least one ofa food dish and a litter box therein. The opening-size selectable membermay be engageable with at least a portion of the housing adjacent theopening. At least a portion of the opening-size selectable member may bedisposed over the opening. In a further configuration, the opening-sizeselectable member may be adjusted to define a plurality of modifiedopenings.

The opening-size selectable member may be fixed with respect to aportion of the housing to define a fixed modified opening. In oneconfiguration, the opening-size selectable member may include aplurality of ridges for correspondingly engaging a plurality of stepsassociated with a portion of the housing. In another configuration, theopening-size selectable member may include a slideable panel portionslideably engaged with a portion of the housing. In anotherconfiguration, the opening-size selectable member may include aplurality of moveable bars restrainably connected to a portion of thehousing. In yet another configuration, the opening-size selectablemember may include at least one crescent shaped body moveably receivedat least partially within a track disposed within the housing. In yetanother configuration, the opening-size selectable member may include anattachable panel portion engageable with a portion of the housing. Thepanel portion may include one of a peg and a hole, and the housing mayinclude the other of the peg and the hole, such that the hole is adaptedto receive the peg therethrough to secure the opening-size selectablemember and the housing. Optionally, the device may include a secondattachable panel portion engageable with a portion of the housing. Theattachable panel portion may be engageable with a portion of the housingfor restraining the opening in a first dimension, and the secondattachable panel portion may be engageable with a portion of the housingfor restraining the opening in a second dimension, with the seconddimension being different than the first dimension.

The housing may also include a top portion defining an access porttherethrough, with the access port in communication with the housinginterior. In certain configurations, the modified opening restrains atleast a portion of the second animal from entering the housing interior.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a devicefor limiting access of an animal includes a housing having a sidewalldefining an opening therein, and a housing interior in communicationwith the opening. The device also includes means for restricting atleast one dimension of the opening to allow passage of a first-sizedanimal into the housing interior through the opening while restraining asecond-sized animal from entering the housing interior. The second-sizedanimal may be larger than the first-sized animal. In one configuration,the means for restricting may define a plurality of modified openings.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a devicefor limiting access of an animal includes a housing having a sidewalldefining an opening therein, and a housing interior in communicationwith the opening. The device also includes an opening-size selectablemember engageable with at least a portion of the housing for restrictingat least one dimension of the opening to form a modified opening. Theopening-size selectable member may include a plurality of ridges forcorrespondingly engaging a plurality of steps associated with a portionof the housing. The means for restricting may define a plurality ofmodified openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a pet access limiting device havingan adjustable opening-size selectable member in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a side view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a front view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1having the opening-size selectable member in a first mostly-openposition.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1having the opening-size selectable member in a second partly-openposition.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1having the opening-size selectable member in a third partly-closedposition.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 1having the opening-size selectable member in a fourth mostly-closedposition.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an engagement mechanismin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the opening-sizeselectable member and engagement mechanism of FIG. 9 in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative pet accesslimiting device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is an alternative exploded perspective view of the pet accesslimiting device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view of the pet access limitingdevice of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative pet access limitingdevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the pet access limiting device of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a housingof a pet access limiting device in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a pair of corresponding halves of anopening-size selectable member in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a pet access limiting device includingthe housing of FIG. 16 and the opening-size selectable member of FIG. 17in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a housing of an alternative pet accesslimiting device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20 is a front view of an alternative opening-size selectable memberin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the opening-size selectable member of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 19 having anopening-size selectable member of FIG. 20 engaged with the housing in ahorizontal orientation.

FIG. 23 is an alternative opening-size selectable member having a holetherethrough in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the alternative opening-size selectable memberin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 19 having anopening-size selectable member of FIG. 20 engaged with the housing in ahorizontal orientation and an opening-size selectable member of FIG. 23engaged with the housing in a vertical orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-10, in one embodiment the pet access limiting device10 includes a housing 12 having an interior 14 into which a feeding dishor litter pan may be positioned. The housing 12 defines an opening 16extending through a portion of a sidewall 18. The housing 12 can haveany suitable dimensions and shape such that a feeding dish or litter panmay be positioned within the housing 12. Additionally, the housing 12may be made of any suitable materials, such as a polymeric composition.In certain configurations, the housing 12 may include a top portion 20engageable with a bottom portion 22, such as through snap-fit means orother locking arrangement. In another configuration, the housing 12 mayinclude only the top portion 20, in which the bottom surface is leftopen to rest directly on the floor. In yet another embodiment, the topportion 20 may include an access port 24 in a top surface 26 to allow auser to pass items, such as a feeding dish and/or litter box,therethrough. It has been found that by providing the access port 24within the top surface 26 of the housing 12, animals do not attempt togain access to the interior 14 of the housing 12. Accordingly, a usermay advantageously use the access port 24 to pass items therethroughwithout concern that an animal will enter the housing 12.

The housing 12 also includes an opening-size selectable member 28 whichis moveably engageable with at least a portion of the housing 12. In oneembodiment, the opening-size selectable member 28 is engageable with atleast a portion of an exterior surface 30 of the housing 12. In anotherembodiment, the opening-size selectable member 28 may be engaged with afirst portion of the housing 12 by the user, and subsequently moved andengaged with a second portion of the housing 12, also by the user. Theopening-size selectable member 28 may be engageable with a portion ofthe housing 12 adjacent the opening 16, such that the opening-sizeselectable member 28 may be disposed at least partially over the opening16 to restrict the size of the opening 16. In one embodiment, theopening-size selectable member 28 may be engaged with a portion of thehousing 12 to create a desired opening size that is smaller than theopening 16 of the housing 12. In another embodiment, the desired openingsize corresponds to the specific size for allowing an animal of one sizeto pass therethrough, while preventing larger animals from accessing theinterior 14 of the housing 12. As used herein, the term “animal” shallinclude animals kept as pets, as well as human infants and toddlers.

The progression of decreasing the desired opening size by engaging theopening-size selectable member 28 with different portions of the housing12 is shown in FIGS. 5-8. As shown in FIG. 5, in an initial position,the opening-size selectable member 28 may be engaged with a firstportion 32 of the housing 12 which does not limit the size of theopening 16. This position can be largely considered a storage positionfor the opening-size selectable member 28, as the opening-sizeselectable member 28 does not restrict the desired opening size of theopening 16. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening-size selectable member 28may be engaged with a second portion 34 of the housing 12, whichslightly limits the opening size of the opening 16. In this position,slightly larger animals may be prevented from accessing the interior 14of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 7, the opening-size selectablemember 28 may be engaged with a third portion 36 of the housing 12,which further limits the opening size of the opening 16. In thisposition, animals which could pass through the opening size defined whenthe opening-size selectable member 28 is engaged with the secondposition 34 of the housing 12, could not pass through the opening sizedefined when the opening-size selectable member 28 is engaged with thethird position 36 of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 8, theopening-size selectable member 28 may be engaged with a fourth portion38 of the housing 12, which further limits the opening size of theopening 16 to a mostly closed position. Only very small animals mayaccess the interior 14 of the housing 12 when the opening-sizeselectable member 28 is engaged with the fourth portion 38 of thehousing 12. In this position, animals which could pass through theopening size defined when the opening-size selectable member 28 isengaged with the third position 36 of the housing 12, could not passthrough the opening size defined when the opening-size selectable member28 is engaged with the fourth position 38 of the housing 12. Transitionbetween any of the first position 32, second position 34, third position36 and fourth position 38 may be easily accomplished by the user.Although the embodiment described herein references four generalpositions in which the opening-size selectable member 28 may be engagedwith the housing 12, it is contemplated herein that additional or fewerengagement positions may also be employed within the scope of thepresent invention.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9-10, the opening-size selectablemember 28 may be engaged with a step 40 of the housing 12. In thisembodiment, the exterior surface 30 of the housing 12 includes aplurality of cascading steps 40. Each step 40 may include a riserportion 42, a base portion 44, and a lip portion 46. As shown in FIG. 9,the base portion 44 be connected to the riser portion 42 and may extendfrom the housing 12 in a substantially perpendicular orientation fromthe riser portion 42. The lip portion 46 may be connected to the baseportion 44 and may extend in a substantially upwardly orientation fromthe base portion 44. In one embodiment, the riser portion 42 and the lipportion 46 may extend in substantially the same orientation. In anotherembodiment, the lip portion 46 may be angled with respect to the baseportion 44. In yet another embodiment, the lip portion 46 and the riserportion 42 may form a V-shape cross-section. The opening-size selectablemember 28 may have an exterior surface 48 having a protrusion 50 forengaging the lip portion 46 of the housing 12. The protrusion 50 and thelip portion 46 are structured such that when engaged, the protrusion 50extends into the space defined by the lip portion 46, the base portion44, and the riser portion 42. In another embodiment, the protrusion 50is angled to correspond to the angle of the lip portion 46 of thehousing 12, such that the protrusion 50 rests along the lip portion 46.Accordingly, the opening-size selectable member 28 may be engaged withthe housing 12 by applying a generally downward force to theopening-size selectable member 28 along the arrow B, shown in FIG. 9,which engages the angled protrusion 50 of the opening-size selectablemember 28 with the angled lip portion 46 of the housing 12. When a userdesires to engage the opening-size selectable member 28 with anotherportion of the housing 12, the user applies a generally upward force tothe opening-size selectable member 28 along the arrow A, shown in FIG.9. This upwardly directed force disengages the opening-size selectablemember 28 from the housing 12 and allows the user to re-position theopening-size selectable member 28 as described above.

In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 11-13, the pet access limitingdevice 10 a may include a top portion 20 a engageable with a bottomportion 22 a, as previously described. In this configuration, theopening-size selectable member 28 a may include a slideable door portion60. In this embodiment, at least one of the top portion 20 a and thebottom portion 22 a may include a track 62 adapted to allow the doorportion 60 to slide therein. The door portion 60 may be slideable from afirst position to a second position, in the fashion of a traditionalsliding door. This allows a user to set the opening of the housing 12 ata predetermined location which corresponds to the size allowing a pet ofa first size to pass therethrough, while restraining larger animals fromentering. The door portion 60 may optionally include a locking mechanismfor restraining the door portion 60 at any location within the track 62.Example locking mechanisms include resistance springs, physical pegbarriers, and the like.

In yet another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 14-15, the pet access limitingdevice 10 b may include an opening-size selectable member 28 b having aplurality of bars 70. In one embodiment, the bars 70 may besubstantially vertically aligned to restrict at least a portion of theopening 16 b of the housing 12 b. In another embodiment, the bars 70 maybe substantially horizontally aligned to restrict at least a portion ofthe opening 16 b of the housing 12 b. In yet another embodiment, thebars 70 may be substantially diagonally aligned to restrict at least aportion of the opening 16 b of the housing 12 b. The bars 70 may beprovided in fixed arrangement within a portion of the housing 12, suchthat when a user desires to restrict the opening 16 b, the userpositions the desired number of bars 70 across the opening 16 b. Thebars 70 may be held within the housing 12 b by any number of restrainingmechanisms, such as spring compression or slideable engagement. The bars70 may also have any desired spacing, such as from about 1 inch to about4 inches between bars 70. In another embodiment, the bars 70 are fixedlyheld within the housing 12 b and the user may determine the size of theopening 16 b by sliding the bars 70 to the desired position withintracks disposed within the housing 12 b. The bars 70 may then be lockedinto the desired position by the user.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16-18, the pet accesslimiting device 10 c may include a housing 12 c and an opening-sizeselectable member 28 c. The housing 12 c includes an opening 16 cdefined therein, as previously described. In this configuration, thehousing 12 c further includes a pivot peg 80 adjacent the opening 16 c,and at least one positioning slot 82 also adjacent the opening 16 c. Inone embodiment, the housing 12 c defines a first positioning slot 82 aadjacent the opening 16 c on a first side of the housing 12 c, and asecond positioning slot 82 b adjacent the opening 16 c on a second sideof the housing 12 c. The opening-size selectable member 28 c may includeat least one crescent-shaped wedge 84, having a first end 86 anddefining a hole 88 therethrough, which corresponds to the dimensions ofthe pivot peg 80. The crescent-shaped wedge 84 also includes a secondend 90 having a positioning peg 92 extending outwardly therefrom anddimensioned to pass through at least a portion of the positioning slot82 of the housing 12 c. In one embodiment, the opening-size selectablemember 28 c includes two crescent-shaped wedges 84, the first wedge 94having a generally leftward oriented concave shape, and the second wedge96 having a generally rightward oriented concave shape.

As shown in FIG. 18, the opening-size selectable member 28 c may beengageable with the housing 12 c to restrict the opening 16 c. Duringassembly, the first wedge 94 of the opening-size selectable member 28 cmay be positioned such that the pivot peg 80 of the housing 12 c extendsat least partially through the hole 88. The first wedge 94 is alsopositioned such that the positioning peg 92 extends at least partiallythrough the positioning slot 82 a of the housing 12 c. The second wedge96 may also be positioned such that the pivot peg 80 extends at leastpartially through the hole 88 and the positioning peg 92 extends atleast partially through the positioning slot 82 b of the housing 12 c.In order to restrict the opening 16 c of the housing 12 c, the user mayslide the positioning peg 92 of the wedge 94 of the opening-sizeselectable member 28 c within the positioning slot 82 a. The user mayalso slide the positioning peg 92 of the wedge 96 of the opening-sizeselectable member 28 c within the positioning slot 82 b. At least one ofthe first wedge 94 and the second wedge 96 may include locking means forsecuring the opening-size selectable member 28 c in a fixed positionwith respect to the housing 12 c, to restrict the size of the opening 16c.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 19-25, the pet accesslimiting device 10 d may include a housing 12 d and an opening-sizeselectable member 28 d. In this embodiment, the housing 12 d defines anopening 16 d, as previously described. As shown in FIG. 19, a pluralityof ports or holes 100 may be disposed adjacent the opening 16 d andextending at least partially into the housing 12 d. The holes 100 may bedisposed in any ordered pattern about the opening 16 d, such as in asubstantially square or rectangular orientation, or a substantiallycircular orientation.

As shown in FIGS. 20-21 the opening-size selectable member 28 d mayinclude a strip member 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106.The strip member 102 may have a first peg 108 adjacent the first end 104and a second peg 110 adjacent the second end 106, wherein the first peg108 and the second peg 110 extend from substantially the same surface ofthe strip member 102. The first peg 108 and the second peg 100 aredimensioned for secure engagement within the holes 100 defined withinthe housing 12 d. As shown in FIG. 22, the first peg 108 and the secondpeg 110 of the strip member 102 may be positioned within correspondingholes 100 of the housing 12 d such that the strip member 102 may bedisposed at least partially across the opening 16 d. It is contemplatedherein, that a plurality of strip members 102 may be similarly orientedto further restrict the size of the opening 16 d of the housing 12 d. Asshown in FIG. 22, the strip member 102 is shown horizontally disposed atleast partially across the opening 16 d. It is also contemplated herein,that vertically disposed strip members may also be positioned across theopening 16 d.

As shown in FIGS. 23-25, a second strip member 120 may have a first end122 and a second end 124, with a hole 126 defined within the first end122. A first peg 128 may also be provided adjacent the first end 122,and a second peg 130 may also be provided adjacent the second end 124.As shown in FIG. 25, a horizontally disposed strip member 102 and avertically disposed strip member 120 may be at least partially disposedover the opening 16 d to restrict the opening size. In thisconfiguration, the vertically oriented strip member 120 may be disposedwithin corresponding holes 100 of the housing 12 d. A horizontallyoriented strip member 102, having a peg 140, as shown in FIG. 21,disposed within the hole 126 of the vertically oriented strip member 120may also be provided over at least a portion of the opening 16 d. Inthis manner, the opening size of the opening 16 d may be furtherrestricted. It is also contemplated herein that a plurality ofhorizontally oriented strip members and/or a plurality of verticallyoriented strip members may be disposed over portions of the opening 16 dto define an opening size to allow a pet of one size to passtherethrough, while preventing larger animals from entering the interiorof the pet access restricting device.

While several embodiments for a pet access limiting device and method ofuse are described in the foregoing detailed description, those skilledin the art may make modifications and alterations to these embodimentswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrativerather than restrictive. The invention described hereinabove is definedby the appended claims and all changes to the invention that fall withinthe meaning and the range of equivalency of the claims are embracedwithin their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for limiting access of an animal,comprising: a housing having a sidewall defining an opening therein, anda housing interior in communication with the opening wherein thesidewall includes an angled exterior surface comprising a plurality ofsteps, wherein each step includes a riser, a base joined to the riser,and a lip joined to the base at an angle extending outwardly from thesidewall; and at least one opening-size selectable member comprising aprotrusion engageable with the plurality of steps of the housing andadjustable to restrict at least one dimension of the opening to form amodified opening, wherein engagement of the protrusion with a firstportion of the plurality of steps forms a first modified opening andengagement of the protrusion with a second portion of the plurality ofsteps forms a second modified opening, the second modified opening beingdifferent than the first modified opening, and the first portion beingdifferent than the second portion, and wherein each of the first andsecond modified openings allow passage of a first animal into thehousing interior through the respective first or second modified openingand restrains a second animal from entering the housing interior, thesecond animal being larger than the first animal.
 2. The device of claim1, wherein the housing interior is adapted to house at least one of afood dish and a litter box therein.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein atleast a portion of the opening-size selectable member is disposed overthe opening.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening-sizeselectable member may be fixed with respect to a portion of the housingto define a fixed modified opening.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinthe housing further comprises a top portion defining an access porttherethrough, the access port in communication with the housinginterior.
 6. A device for limiting access of an animal, comprising: ahousing having a sidewall defining an opening therein, and a housinginterior in communication with the opening wherein the sidewall includesan angled exterior surface comprising a plurality of steps, wherein eachstep includes a riser, a base joined to the riser, and a lip joined tothe base at an angle extending outwardly from the sidewall; and at leastone opening-size selectable member comprising a protrusion engageablewith a first portion of the plurality of steps of the housing forrestricting at least one dimension of the opening to form a firstmodified opening, the at least one opening-size selectable memberengageable with a second portion of the plurality of steps of thehousing for restricting at least one dimension of the opening to form asecond modified opening, wherein the second modified opening isdifferent from the first modified opening and the first portion of theplurality of steps is different from the second portion of the pluralityof steps.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the opening-size selectablemember is engageable with at least a portion of the housing adjacent theopening.